Bridle bit



Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a bridle bit intended for leading and driving horses, and particularly to improvements on the type of bit disclosed in my former patent, No. 2,012,705, entitled Bridle bit, and issued August 27, 1935.

There are a considerable variety of bridle bits in use for leading and driving horses such as Mexican bits, curved bits, etc. Bits of this character are particularly intended for hard-bitted and more or less intractable horses, and while they serve the purpose of keeping the horse under control, they are usually too severe as there is a tendency to cut, bruise and pinch the corners of the mouth.

The bit shown in the above-mentioned patent is in extensive use and is known as the humane bit as it materially reduces the chance of cutting, bruising and pinching the horses mouth. The present invention is an improvement thereon, and the object is to form a pivotal connection between the mouth and cheek pieces of the bit, and particularly to limit the pivotal movement of the cheekpieces with relation to the mouth-piece, so as to further reduce any tendency to cut, bruise or pinch the horses mouth.

The improved bridle bit is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front view of the bit partially in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bit taken on line I[-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line III-III of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the bit applied to a horse.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, AA indicates the cheek-pieces of the bit, B the mouth-piece and C the straps forming the head stall whereby the bit is held in place. The cheek-pieces are in this instance connected by two cross-bars generally indicated at B and D, the bar B forming the mouth-piece, and the bar D the hinge bar.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the upper portion of each cheek-piece is formed in the shape of a ring such as indicated at 2. These rings are in actual practice an inch and a half or more in diameter and each ring is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed bearing lugs 3 and 4. These lugs are bent or extended outwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and pins 5 extend between them and are secured thereto to form pivotal connections between the 2 cheek-pieces and the outer ends of the mouthpiece B, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The pivotal connections thus formed will accordingly be ofiset with relation to the inner faces 20, of the cheek-pieces and any tendency to cutting or pinching of the corners of the horses mouth will accordingly be reduced.

The upper portions of the rings 2 forming the upper ends of the cheek-pieces are provided with loop-like extensions 6 to which the head stall strap 0 is attached, a curb strap E being also attached at the same place. The cheek-pieces are extended downwardly from the rings 22 and these extensions may be in the shape shown in my former patent, or in the form of a series of connected ring-shaped members 1 as here shown. Each lowermost ring-shaped member of the extended cheek-pieces carries a pivot pin 8. These pins carry the hinge bar D. The pins form pivotal connections between the cheek-pieces and the hinge bar and as the pins 8 align with the pins 5 as shown in Fig. 1, free pivotal movement of the cheek-pieces with relation to the bars B and D is permitted. Inasmuch as the pins 5 are offset with relation to the inner faces 2a of the cheekpieces, it is obvious that they will have to be angularly disposed, and so will the pins 8. It is due to this offsetting of the pins 5 that both sets of pins must be angularly disposed with relation to their respective cross-bars, and if free pivotal movement is to be permitted, the pins 5 and 8 must align. Such alignment is indicated by the dotted line 99 (see Fig. 1). The center portion of the hinge bar D carries an eye member l5 and a chain H5 connects this eye member with the curb strap E. This chain may be referred to as the lip hold-down chain as it prevents the horse from lipping the bit, and it also prevents the horse from throwing the bit over his nose, and it furthermore holds the bit steady when riding or driving.

The mouth-piece B may be provided with a port and a cricket or roller such as shown at H3, or a spoon type mouth-piece, or any other type may be employed, the main feature being that the pivotal .connection 5 between the cheek-pieces and the mouth-piece shall be offset so that when the bit piece is in the horses mouth, the pivotal connection does not come in contact with the corners of the mouth. This arrangement distributes pressure evenly and reduces any tendency towards cutting and pinching. The bit so far described is substantially the same as that disclosed in my patent, No. 2,012,705, formerly referred to. The improvement in the present bit over the former bit is that of providing means for limiting pivotal movement of the cheek-pieces with relation to the mouth-piece. By referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the pins 5 are each provided with an arm 25 and that these arms extend into recesses 2 5 formed adjacent each end of the mouthpiece. Each recess terminates in shoulders 21 and 28 at opposite ends, hence when the cheekpiece pivots or swin s-with relationto-the mouthpiece, the free pivotal movement will be limited as the arm 25 will engage one or another of the shoulders. This is important as it further re;-- duces any tendency toward cutting, bruising, or, pinching the corners of the horses mouth.

It is a fact that bits whic11.pillh;and out the corners of the mouth spoil horsesby causingthem to throw their heads, to fight the bits, anditcauses them to become hard-mouthed or cold-jawed, limiting the possibility or; necessity of such cruel bit/ting by the use, of the bit. here illustrated, a. horse is made tractable andeasilyreined, yet, there isno weakness in theconstruction of the bititself or; in the-controlof the driver.

Besides the humane features provided by this improvedbit, it lends. itself to artistic, and: ornar mental design, and while this and. other features, of the inventionhave beenmore or less sepcifically described-and illustrated it should be understood, thatchangesmaybe-resorted to Within the sCQRfi: of theappended-claims and that the materialsand, finish of the -several parts employed may be such. the experience or judgment of the; mann factilrer may dictatelor varying conditions or uses-= may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I clairmand desireto secure by LettersPatent is:

1. A- bridle bit comprising a pairof: cheek-l pieces, said check pieces being, ring-shaped at.

their upper ends, a pair of diametrically opposed. bearing lugs in each ring, a mouth-piece, pins extending through the bearing lugs and the outer ends of the mouth-piece lie-form; pivotal conneca tionsbetween the cheek-pieces and the mouthepiece, said-bearing lugs-being. bent outwardly with relation, to theinner faces of the cheek-pieces so as. to bring. the pivotal connectiorpinaplane ex, terior. to, saidinner faces, and means disposedbetween said pivotal; connections. for limiting pivotal, movement of, the cheek-ipieces with: rela-o tion to the respective ends of the mouthmiece.

2. A. bridle bit comprising a. pair of cheek-l pieces, a. pair oi. diametrically opposed, bearing lugs. in; each cheek-piece,.a. mo11th=piece, pi-ns. exe. tendingf through the. bearing lugs and the. outer ends of the mouth-piece to form pivotal connece tions between the cheek-pieces and, the. mouths piece, an inwardly directed arm on each pin,. there being a recess formed within each end of the mouthpiece into which the arms extend, and' a pair of opposed shoulders in each recess with which the adjacent arm is engageable to limit, pivotal movement of the cheek-pieces with relation to the mouth-piece.

3. A bridle bit comprising a pair of cheekpieces, said cheek-pieces being ring-shaped at their upper ends, a pair of diametrically opposed bearing lugs in each ring, a mouth-piece, pins extending through the bearing lugs and the outer ends of the mouth-piece to form pivotal connections between the cheek-pieces and the mouthpiece, an inwardly extending arm on each pin, there being, recesses formed between the bearing lugs adjacent each endof them-outh-piece into which the arms extend, a pair of opposed shoulders in each recess with which the arms are engageable to limit pivotal movement of the cheekpieces with relation to the mouth-piece, said Y bearing lugs extending outwardly with relation to the inner faces of the cheek-pieces so as to bring the pivotal connection in a plane exterior to said inner faces, a downwardly extending portion on each cheek-piece, a lower hinge bar and pi o l conn i n te weenw he. lower en of a h ch e rpiec and. the. h n a ai pivo al connections aligning with the pins about which the cheek-pieces pivot with relation to the mouth-piece.

4. A bridle bit comprising a pair of cheekpieces each having an inner face and an outer face; a hinge bar; means pivoting saijdlhinge bar. to both of said cheek-pieces for rotation abQut axes each extending outside the outer facev of a respective one of said cheekpiec es;, a pair of opposed bearing lugs extending outwardly, from each of said cheek-pieces; a mouth piece adjacent both ends thereof having facing walls defining enlarged recesses, extending therethrough;

a pair of pivot pins one being disposed onreach, of said axes, extending through an, adjacent onev of said recesses, and engagingthe respective ones Qf' said bearing lugs; and arms projecting from said pins inwardly of said. axes and e ch being '-1 engageable with either of said adjacent facing walls to limit the movement of the respective cheek-pieces with respect to the respectiye one of said hinge. bar and said mouth-piece. about said axes.

LELAND ER EN- nnsnnmvcns Orrin) The following references areof record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

